Worcester rally ponders role of police

Thursday

Aug 14, 2014 at 10:36 PMAug 14, 2014 at 10:49 PM

By Steven H. Foskett Jr. TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

WORCESTER — As startling stories and images continue to pour out of Ferguson, Mo., more than 50 people gathered Thursday night on the Common to relate personal experiences and call for further action in the wake of the shooting death Saturday of teen Michael Brown by Ferguson police.

As Missouri state Highway Patrol officers took over enforcement duties with what appeared to be a more low-key approach Thursday evening in the tumultuous St. Louis suburb, Worcester residents talked about how what happened to Mr. Brown could happen to any young man of color in any city in America.

Several speakers hit on a recurring theme of being afraid for what happens when their children grow up. How will they be perceived by other people? How will they be treated by police?

"My son still thinks police are cool," said Ike McBride, as young Ike Jr. and Mr. McBride's daughter, Liyah, stood by his side.

He said he understands what police are up against, and understands the risks they take every day. But he said that's not an excuse for hurting people. He said the type of policing that led to the death of Mr. Brown, who was unarmed when he was shot several times by an officer, is found disproportionately in poor black and Latino communities.

"It's good that we're here, but this is crazy," said Dontae McKeiver.

Flipping a commonly referenced stereotype, Mr. McKeiver admitted that sometimes, if he sees a white person across the street, he won't cross out of fear for his own safety.

"I'm probably more afraid of them than they are of me," he said.

Mr. McKeiver and others at the gathering said anger over what is going on in Ferguson needs to turn into action. It's a time to come together, he said, noting that the status quo "only works when we're disconnected."

Several people who spoke related personal stories of negative experiences with police in the city. Cardethia Moore-Jenkins talked about eight years ago, when her then-15-year-old son and his friends, fooling around on Pleasant Street after returning from a basketball tournament in Las Vegas, were stopped by police and forced to the ground after a passer-by suspected a robbery had taken place. She said she never received any answers from police, and said it forever changed her son's outlook.

"The look in his eyes changed," she said.

Local poet Robert Gibbs noted the small, unobtrusive police presence across the Common, and expressed his irritation.

"It's as if any of us have it in our minds to perpetuate any of that violence," Mr. Gibbs said.

Christopher Robarge of the local chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union said he wanted to hear stories from people who have had difficulty bringing forward allegations of police misconduct.

School Committee member Tracy O'Connell Novick told the gathering some important votes are coming before the board on school discipline, and urged those in attendance to get involved.

Deb Powers wouldn't take credit for organizing the gathering Thursday night, but she at least had a hand in getting it rolling. She said she felt like she had to do something.

"The people in Ferguson are my community," she said.

Khrystian King offered a prayer to the group, and called for "continued coalescence" in a city full of different perspectives. At one point he called for all the men of color at the gathering to come up to stand together. As he ran his hands through the dreadlocked hair of a young boy standing beside him, he said they come from different walks of life with different experiences and different stories.